Optics &

Photonics

Innovations in optics and photonics underpin advancements in high-tech manufacturing, faster communications, medical diagnostics, high-power lasers, nuclear threat identification, solar power and other technologies essential to the health and safety of people worldwide and offers the potential for a scalable quantum computer. Many of today’s ‘must-have’ technologies such as smart phones, high definition TVs, LED lighting and digital cameras are enabled by optics and photonics.

Our patent attorneys have a wealth of experience in the fields of optics, photonics and laser science, with many holding masters and PhD qualifications in this technology space. In addition they have a vast amount of relevant IP expertise at all stages of the patent lifecycle including patent drafting, prosecution, infringement and validity opinions, freedom to operate work, and oppositions. Their patent work covers a range of specific technologies including everything from optoelectronics to medical imaging, laser development and quantum structures to LiDAR equipment and imaging techniques.

Our patent experts really understand the physics behind these inventions and relish the opportunity to work with you to patent this technology.

EPO Opposition Trends in Engineering, Electronics and Software-compressed

Special Report

EPO Opposition Trends in Engineering, Electronics and Software

In autumn 2020, we analysed more than 8000 opposition cases filed at the European Patent Office (EPO) over the last 12 years, studying the timelines for hundreds of engineering, electronics and software oppositions.

The research enabled us to see how oppositions have been affected by procedural changes at the European Patent Office and by the Covid-19 pandemic. With a focus on Transport, Medical Devices, Telecommunications and Software, the report also looks at how opposition outcomes vary across the four different technology sectors and which players are the most active.

Read our blogs

Communication & policy: the next arena for fusion’s future?

Communication & policy: the next arena for fusion’s future?

by Alex Savin

Much of the discussion around the commercial future for nuclear fusion has revolved around sharing updates in technological breakthroughs and developments, or around devising plans on how to attract ...

Software IP – A Lunch and Learn Seminar for Startups and SMEs, Wednesday 19 March 2025

Software IP – A Lunch and Learn Seminar for Startups and SMEs, Wednesday 19 March 2025

by James Leach

Join us for an insightful seminar at the Greater Manchester Digital Security Hub (DiSH), where James Leach, Partner at Mewburn Ellis LLP will provide practical guidance on using intellectual property ...

Shaping Possibilities: The Journey of Prosthetic Fitting

Shaping Possibilities: The Journey of Prosthetic Fitting

by Joe Egelstaff

Prosthetics have a transformative impact on patients' quality of life, enabling greater independence and the ability to participate in a wide range of activities. However, the fit of a prosthetic is ...

Quantum and the law - a new special report

Quantum and the law - a new special report

by Joanna Smith

We are delighted to release our latest report Quantum and the law. View the report here.

UPC Weekly - Alexion v Samsung & Amgen – Patentee’s attempted U-turn on claim interpretation foiled by UPC Court of Appeal

UPC Weekly - Alexion v Samsung & Amgen – Patentee’s attempted U-turn on claim interpretation foiled by UPC Court of Appeal

by Eliot Ward

2025 Week 2 Tailoring one’s claim interpretation for the jurisdiction at hand can be a canny way of maximizing your patent’s footprint. You can argue a narrow interpretation during grant and validity ...

UPC Weekly - UPC transparency by numbers

UPC Weekly - UPC transparency by numbers

by Matthew Naylor

2025 Week 1 How easy is it to get hold of documents from UPC cases? The easy answer “it depends” is not very helpful. This week we weigh up all of the cases to date where public access to the UPC ...

Forward Magazines Overlapping 6-compressed

Mewburn Ellis

FORWARD MAGAZINE

Mewburn Ellis Forward is a biannual publication that celebrates the best of innovation and exploration. Through its pages we hope to inform and entertain, but also to encourage discussion about the most compelling developments taking place in the scientific and entrepreneurial world. Along the way, we’ll engage with the IP challenges that international organisations face every day.